- Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Zoology, Evolution, Evolutionary Biology, Avian Ecology, Land Planning, and 11 moreMacroevolution, Island Biogeography, Avian taxonomy, Stable isotope ecology, Tropical Ecology, Wildlife Conservation, Bird Migration, Applied Ecology, Stable Isotopes in Foodwebs, Tropical Forest Ecology, and Foraging ecologyedit
- I am an Irish Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, working on the ecology and evolution of the Andrena solitary mini... moreI am an Irish Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, working on the ecology and evolution of the Andrena solitary mining bees, a hyper-diverse genus of important wild pollinators. In this project I am using ecological genomics to assess the adaptation of this genus along an ecological gradient in the Western Palearctic. Additionally I work on the impact of multiple stressors on honey bees. My general research interests include speciation, biogeography, network ecology and biodiversity monitoring.edit
- Dr Julia Jonesedit
Aim Wallacea is a global biodiversity hotspot and Sulawesi is the largest island in this region, notable for a high proportion of endemic species. The Wakatobi archipelago, off the southeastern peninsular arm of Sulawesi, is home to... more
Aim
Wallacea is a global biodiversity hotspot and Sulawesi is the largest island in this region, notable for a high proportion of endemic species. The Wakatobi archipelago, off the southeastern peninsular arm of Sulawesi, is home to several endemic bird species. Although islands are known to influence the morphology of their resident species, competitive interactions also exert strong influences on morphology. Here, we consider the contributions of both islands and competitors on two morphological traits of two bird species in a small passerine guild found on the Wakatobi islands.
Location
Wakatobi archipelago, Sulawesi Tenggara, Indonesia.
Taxon
Wakatobi White-eye (Zosterops flavissimus) and Wakatobi Sunbird (Cinnyris infrenatus).
Methods
Working with morphological measures (from netting studies), population density metrics (from transect surveys) and fundamental data from islands (area, distance from mainland and elevation), we investigated (by means of multiple linear regression) which terms best explained variation in the body size and bill size of two small passerine birds endemic to the Wakatobi islands.
Results
Both island metrics and competitor presence/density were useful in describing the variation in body size of both bird species. However, only competitor presence/density was useful in describing variation in bill size of the birds. The best models describing variation in these traits included terms representing both interspecific and intraspecific competition.
Main Conclusions
Our findings indicate that simple island metrics may be useful in predicting some of the variation in some functional traits of island species. However, in this example, simple island metrics were insufficient to explain the full variation in body size of endemic birds across the Wakatobi archipelago and were of no use in predicting the variation in their bill size. As bill morphology frequently dictates diet and feeding niche, it is a trait which may determine population divergence and speciation. If simple island metrics fail to describe such diversification, it is surely important to capture that information in other ways.
Wallacea is a global biodiversity hotspot and Sulawesi is the largest island in this region, notable for a high proportion of endemic species. The Wakatobi archipelago, off the southeastern peninsular arm of Sulawesi, is home to several endemic bird species. Although islands are known to influence the morphology of their resident species, competitive interactions also exert strong influences on morphology. Here, we consider the contributions of both islands and competitors on two morphological traits of two bird species in a small passerine guild found on the Wakatobi islands.
Location
Wakatobi archipelago, Sulawesi Tenggara, Indonesia.
Taxon
Wakatobi White-eye (Zosterops flavissimus) and Wakatobi Sunbird (Cinnyris infrenatus).
Methods
Working with morphological measures (from netting studies), population density metrics (from transect surveys) and fundamental data from islands (area, distance from mainland and elevation), we investigated (by means of multiple linear regression) which terms best explained variation in the body size and bill size of two small passerine birds endemic to the Wakatobi islands.
Results
Both island metrics and competitor presence/density were useful in describing the variation in body size of both bird species. However, only competitor presence/density was useful in describing variation in bill size of the birds. The best models describing variation in these traits included terms representing both interspecific and intraspecific competition.
Main Conclusions
Our findings indicate that simple island metrics may be useful in predicting some of the variation in some functional traits of island species. However, in this example, simple island metrics were insufficient to explain the full variation in body size of endemic birds across the Wakatobi archipelago and were of no use in predicting the variation in their bill size. As bill morphology frequently dictates diet and feeding niche, it is a trait which may determine population divergence and speciation. If simple island metrics fail to describe such diversification, it is surely important to capture that information in other ways.
Research Interests:
Honey bees are globally important pollinators, key to many aspects of ecosystem function and agricultural production. However they are facing an increasing array of stress factors. These stressors include exposure to pathogens and... more
Honey bees are globally important pollinators, key to many aspects of ecosystem function and agricultural production. However they are facing an increasing array of stress factors. These stressors include exposure to pathogens and pesticides, agricultural intensification, and changes in climate, and likely contribute to colony dysfunction and colony losses. Here we use temperature-controlled glasshouse experiments to investigate the impact of a field-realistic temperature-range on honey bee colonies, including temperatures based on projections for near-future local conditions. We show that increased temperatures have a significant impact on honey bee worker activity, with increased worker movement in and out of colonies, particularly over 30 °C. In addition, increased glasshouse temperatures led to significantly higher brood (egg, larval and pupal cells) humidity. Finally, temperature had a more severe impact at the later end of the experiment than at the start (on worker movement and brood conditions), suggesting that colonies under stress (either due to exposure to thermal stress or glasshouse confinement) have more difficulty in manging thermoregulation. These results indicate the potential impact of higher temperatures on the healthy functioning of these important pollinators.
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Spatial isolation is a key driver of population-level variability in traits and genotypes worldwide. Geographical distance between populations typically increases isolation, but organisms face additional environmental barriers when... more
Spatial isolation is a key driver of population-level variability in traits and genotypes worldwide. Geographical distance between populations typically increases isolation, but organisms face additional environmental barriers when dispersing between suitable habitat patches. Despite the predicted universal nature of the causes of isolation, global comparisons of isolation effects across taxa and geographic systems are few. We assessed the strength of isolation due to geographic and macroclimatic distance for paired marine island and paired mainland populations within the same species. Our meta-analysis included published measurements of phenotypic traits and neutral genetic diversity from 1608 populations of 108 plant and animal species at a global scale. As expected, phenotypic differentiation was higher between marine islands than between populations on the mainland, but we found no consistent signal for differences in spatial patterns of neutral genetic diversity between the two systems. Geographic distance had comparatively weak effects on the spatial patterns of phenotypes and neutral genetic diversity. These results suggest that spatial patterns of phenotypic variation are determined by eco-evolutionary pressures that differ more between islands than between mainland populations, while the spatial variability of neutral genetic diversity might be shaped by rather similar processes in the two systems. Our approach demonstrates that global biodiversity models that include island biology studies may progress our understanding of the interacting effects of spatial habitat structure, geographic- and environmental distances on biological processes underlying spatial population variability. We formulate future research directions for empirical tests and global syntheses in the field.
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Determining the levels of agrochemicals, such as pesticides, that honey bees are exposed to is critical for understanding what stress factors may be contributing to colony declines. Although several pesticide detection methods are... more
Determining the levels of agrochemicals, such as pesticides, that honey bees are exposed to is critical for understanding what stress factors may be contributing to colony declines. Although several pesticide detection methods are available for honey, limited work has been conducted to adapt these methods for pollen. Here, we address this gap by modifying the Dutch mini-Luke extraction method (NL method) for pesticide analysis in honey and pollen from throughout the island of Ireland. The NL method was modified to enable detection in small-sized samples and validated for both pollen and honey matrices. The modified NL method combined with liquid and gas chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry gave consistent results in terms of accuracy and precision measured by recovery experiments and was successfully applied in the analysis of a range of pesticide residues. The modified NL method developed here provides a key tool for detecting pesticides in honey bee colony resources and the environment more broadly.
Research Interests:
Mangrove forests, benefitting millions of people, experience significant degradation. Global recognition of the urgency of halting and reversing this trend have initiated numerous restoration activities. Restoration success is typically... more
Mangrove forests, benefitting millions of people, experience significant degradation. Global recognition of the urgency of halting and reversing this trend have initiated numerous restoration activities. Restoration success is typically evaluated by estimating mangrove survival and area restored, while diversity and structure of vegetation, as proxies for functional forests, are rarely considered. Here we assess mangrove species richness along sea-landward transects and evaluate restoration outcomes by comparing number of mangrove species, relative species abundance, biomass, diameter, and canopy cover in "Monoculture Reforestation", "Mixed Species Regeneration" and adjacent "Reference" forest stands, 14 (Tiwoho site) and 16 years (Likupang site) after restoration activities took place. In the "Monoculture Reforestation" plots, mangrove diversity and structure still closely reflected the original restoration actions, with only one and two "new" species having established among the originally densely planted "foundation" species. In contrast, the "Mixed Species Regeneration" plots were more similar to the "Reference" plots in terms of tree diameter and canopy coverage, but species number, abundance and biomass were still lower. The trajectory of the "Mixed Species Regeneration" plots suggests their similarity with the "Reference" stands will increase over time, whereas such "smooth" transition is unlikely to happen in the planted "Monoculture Reforestation" stands, in the foreseeable future. Implementing frequent small-scale disturbances in restored forest management would increase stand structure and diversity, accelerating the establishment of a more natural, and likely more functional and resilient forest.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
1. Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) has emerged as a transformative tool for applied ecology, conservation, and biodiversity monitoring, but its potential contribution to fundamental ecology is less often discussed, and fundamental PAM... more
1. Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) has emerged as a transformative tool for applied ecology, conservation, and biodiversity monitoring, but its potential contribution to fundamental ecology is less often discussed, and fundamental PAM studies tend to be descriptive, rather than mechanistic.
2. Here, we chart the most promising directions for ecologists wishing to use the suite of currently available acoustic methods to address long-standing fundamental questions in ecology and explore new avenues of research. In both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, PAM provides an opportunity to ask questions across multiple spatial scales and at fine temporal resolution, and to capture phenomena or species that are difficult to observe. In combination with traditional approaches to data collection, PAM could release ecologists from myriad limitations that have, at times, precluded mechanistic understanding.
3. We discuss several case studies to demonstrate the potential contribution of PAM to biodiversity estimation, population trend analysis, assessing climate change impacts on phenology and distribution, and understanding disturbance and recovery dynamics. We also highlight what is on the horizon for PAM, in terms of near-future technological and methodological developments that have the potential to provide advances in coming years.
4. Overall, we illustrate how ecologists can harness the power of PAM to address fundamental ecological questions in an era of ecology no longer characterised by data limitation.
2. Here, we chart the most promising directions for ecologists wishing to use the suite of currently available acoustic methods to address long-standing fundamental questions in ecology and explore new avenues of research. In both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, PAM provides an opportunity to ask questions across multiple spatial scales and at fine temporal resolution, and to capture phenomena or species that are difficult to observe. In combination with traditional approaches to data collection, PAM could release ecologists from myriad limitations that have, at times, precluded mechanistic understanding.
3. We discuss several case studies to demonstrate the potential contribution of PAM to biodiversity estimation, population trend analysis, assessing climate change impacts on phenology and distribution, and understanding disturbance and recovery dynamics. We also highlight what is on the horizon for PAM, in terms of near-future technological and methodological developments that have the potential to provide advances in coming years.
4. Overall, we illustrate how ecologists can harness the power of PAM to address fundamental ecological questions in an era of ecology no longer characterised by data limitation.
Research Interests:
Wallacea—the meeting point between the Asian and Australian fauna—is one of the world's largest centers of endemism. Twenty-three million years of complex geological history have given rise to a living laboratory for the study of... more
Wallacea—the meeting point between the Asian and Australian fauna—is one of the world's largest centers of endemism. Twenty-three million years of complex geological history have given rise to a living laboratory for the study of evolution and biodiversity, highly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures. In the present article, we review the historic and contemporary processes shaping Wallacea's biodiversity and explore ways to conserve its unique ecosystems. Although remoteness has spared many Wallacean islands from the severe overexploitation that characterizes many tropical regions, industrial-scale expansion of agriculture, mining, aquaculture and fisheries is damaging terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, denuding endemics from communities, and threatening a long-term legacy of impoverished human populations. An impending biodiversity catastrophe demands collaborative actions to improve community-based management, minimize environmental impacts, monitor threatened species, and reduce wildlife trade. Securing a positive future for Wallacea's imperiled ecosystems requires a fundamental shift away from managing marine and terrestrial realms independently.
Research Interests:
Birds of the Indo-Pacific have provided biologists with many foundationalinsights. This study presents evidence for strong phylogeographic structure in two sunbird species from the heart of this region, the olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris... more
Birds of the Indo-Pacific have provided biologists with many foundationalinsights. This study presents evidence for strong phylogeographic structure in two sunbird species from the heart of this region, the olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis, and the black sunbird, Leptocoma aspasia. We assessed population divergence using morphological, plumage, bioacoustic and molecular data (mitochondrial ND2/ND3). Our findings indicate that the olive-backed sunbird should be recognized as multiple species, because birds from Sulawesi and the Sahul Shelf are closely related to each other, but widely separated from those in other regions. In addition, we provide evidence for an endemic species on the Wakatobi Islands, an archipelago of deep-sea islands off south-east Sulawesi. That a small bird could exhibit a range all the way from Sulawesi to Australia, while diverging on a small archipelago within this range, illustrates the complex interplay between dispersal and speciation. Our black su...
Research Interests:
The Wakatobi Islands are an archipelago of deep-sea islands lying off the southeast peninsula of Sulawesi. Despite being recognised as an Important Bird Area, the avifauna of these islands has long been neglected. While relatively... more
The Wakatobi Islands are an archipelago of deep-sea islands lying off the southeast peninsula of Sulawesi. Despite being recognised as an Important Bird Area, the avifauna of these islands has long been neglected. While relatively extensive surveys have been carried out on nearby Buton Island (the largest satellite of Southeast Sulawesi), the avifauna of the Wakatobi Islands went unstudied for nearly a century following the expedition of Heinrich Kühn in 1901-1902. Between 1999-2019 ornithologists visited nine of the archipelago's islands on eight expeditions, seeking to carry out a modern assessment of the islands' avifauna and re-evaluate the taxonomy of the avifauna. These expeditions combined transect surveys and mist netting. These formal surveys were targeted at small passerines, the focus of the taxonomic work, however all birds encountered were recorded allowing for a broad qualitative assessment of the avifaunal communities inhabiting the islands. In total, 100 bird species were recorded, of which 12 are Wallacean endemics, six are classified as Near Threatened and one as Critically Endangered. Here we present the species recorded during this study and review the historical literature to provide an inventory of the avifauna of the Wakatobi Islands. In addition, we review the taxonomy of Wakatobi populations including recent developments of note, highlighting potentially underappreciated endemism, and provide some information on relative abundance of bird species present.
Research Interests:
Birds of the Indo-Pacific have provided biologists with many foundationalinsights. This study presents evidence for strong phylogeographic structure in two sunbird species from the heart of this region, the olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris... more
Birds of the Indo-Pacific have provided biologists with many foundationalinsights. This study presents evidence for strong phylogeographic structure in two sunbird species from the heart of this region, the olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis, and the black sunbird, Leptocoma aspasia. We assessed population divergence using morphological, plumage, bioacoustic and molecular data (mitochondrial ND2/ND3). Our findings indicate that the olive-backed sunbird should be recognized as multiple species, because birds from Sulawesi and the Sahul Shelf are closely related to each other, but widely separated from those in other regions. In addition, we provide evidence for an endemic species on the Wakatobi Islands, an archipelago of deep-sea islands off southeast Sulawesi. That a small bird could exhibit a range all the way from Sulawesi to Australia, while diverging on a small archipelago within this range, illustrates the complex interplay between dispersal and speciation. Our black sunbird genetic data also suggest unrecognized population structure, despite relatively weak plumage divergence. Black sunbirds in Sulawesi are likely to be a separate species from those in New Guinea, with a mean genetic distance of 9.1%. Current taxonomy suggests these sunbird species transcend classic biogeographic barriers, but our results suggest that these barriers are not easily bypassed.
Research Interests:
Wallacea—the meeting point between the Asian and Australian fauna—is one of the world's largest centers of endemism. Twenty-three million years of complex geological history have given rise to a living laboratory for the study of... more
Wallacea—the meeting point between the Asian and Australian fauna—is one of the world's largest centers of endemism. Twenty-three million years of complex geological history have given rise to a living laboratory for the study of evolution and biodiversity, highly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures. In the present article, we review the historic and contemporary processes shaping Wallacea's biodiversity and explore ways to conserve its unique ecosystems. Although remoteness has spared many Wallacean islands from the severe overexploitation that characterizes many tropical regions, industrial-scale expansion of agriculture, mining, aquaculture and fisheries is damaging terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, denuding endemics from communities, and threatening a long-term legacy of impoverished human populations. An impending biodiversity catastrophe demands collaborative actions to improve community-based management, minimize environmental impacts, monitor threatened species, and reduce wildlife trade. Securing a positive future for Wallacea's imperiled ecosystems requires a fundamental shift away from managing marine and terrestrial realms independently.
Research Interests:
The islands of the Wallacean biodiversity hotspot support diverse and highly endemic bird communities, yet remain ornithologically poorly studied. There is a particular paucity of data regarding breeding biology for the region's birds.... more
The islands of the Wallacean biodiversity hotspot support diverse and highly endemic bird communities, yet remain ornithologically poorly studied. There is a particular paucity of data regarding breeding biology for the region's birds. Here, we help to address this research gap by collating observations of breeding evidence made during nearly 20 years of field work between 1999 and 2018 in south-east Sulawesi and its offshore islands. Data were collected between April and September, with a special focus on July and August, which is the dry season across the southern half of Sulawesi. In total, we summarise 1,064 observations of potential breeding in 66 species, of which 27 are Wallacean endemics (including the Critically Endangered Maleo Macrocephalon maleo), and 39 species of wider range (including the Endangered Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea). Records include species with little or no previously published information on their breeding biology, such as Pygmy Hanging Parrot Loriculus exilis, Sulawesi Pitta Erythropitta celebensis and an undescribed Zosterops species, provisionally referred to as Wangi-wangi White-eye.
Research Interests:
The provision of artificial nest structures is used in the conservation of a broad range of bird groups including raptors, owls, ducks, passerines and seabirds, with varying degrees of success. Artificial nestboxes have been provided to... more
The provision of artificial nest structures is used in the conservation of a broad range of bird groups including raptors, owls, ducks, passerines and seabirds, with varying degrees of success.
Artificial nestboxes have been provided to increase the density and breeding success of Roseate Tern pairs at colonies in north-west Europe and the eastern seaboard of the USA and Canada, but their effect on breeding productivity has never been comprehensively quantified.
Using 15 years of monitoring data, based on daily nest monitoring visits, we carried out a comparative analysis of the breeding performance of Roseate Tern pairs utilizing artificial nestboxes with those in open nests, on Rockabill Island (Ireland), to evaluate the effectiveness of nestbox installation as a conservation measure.
Nestboxes were used ahead of open sites early in the season, likely by the experienced breeding pairs. Hatching success and fledging success were higher for pairs in nestboxes compared with those in open nest sites. Earlier clutches were more successful than later ones, independent of the effects of nest site type.
The results of this study show definitively that Roseate Terns nesting in nestboxes perform better than those using open nest sites at their largest European colony and that nestboxes are chosen ahead of other sites, likely by the experienced breeding pairs. We recommend the continued and expanded use of nestboxes to help maximize the densities and breeding performance of the Roseate Tern.
Artificial nestboxes have been provided to increase the density and breeding success of Roseate Tern pairs at colonies in north-west Europe and the eastern seaboard of the USA and Canada, but their effect on breeding productivity has never been comprehensively quantified.
Using 15 years of monitoring data, based on daily nest monitoring visits, we carried out a comparative analysis of the breeding performance of Roseate Tern pairs utilizing artificial nestboxes with those in open nests, on Rockabill Island (Ireland), to evaluate the effectiveness of nestbox installation as a conservation measure.
Nestboxes were used ahead of open sites early in the season, likely by the experienced breeding pairs. Hatching success and fledging success were higher for pairs in nestboxes compared with those in open nest sites. Earlier clutches were more successful than later ones, independent of the effects of nest site type.
The results of this study show definitively that Roseate Terns nesting in nestboxes perform better than those using open nest sites at their largest European colony and that nestboxes are chosen ahead of other sites, likely by the experienced breeding pairs. We recommend the continued and expanded use of nestboxes to help maximize the densities and breeding performance of the Roseate Tern.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Little Terns (Sternula albifrons) are particularly vulnerable to nest inundation by high tides, due to their habit of nesting on shingle beaches. At the Kilcoole Little Tern colony (County Wicklow), a high tide on 19 June 2014 caused... more
Little Terns (Sternula albifrons) are particularly vulnerable to nest inundation by high tides, due to their habit of nesting on shingle beaches. At the Kilcoole Little Tern colony (County Wicklow), a high tide on 19 June 2014 caused considerable damage. While 12 nests were completely washed away, another 13 pairs whose nests had been washed out managed to gather their eggs into new nest scrapes, nine pairs managing to gather all of their eggs and another four gathering all but one of their eggs. This is a behaviour never previously recorded for a member of the family Sternidae. These nests were monitored closely to ascertain the viability of the eggs re-gathered after inundation. The proportion of eggs which were embryonically dead was significantly higher in tide affected nests when compared to non-tide affected nests. A higher proportion of the chicks that did hatch from these tide affected nests died at an early age, than those from non-tide affected nests, though this was not a...
We present the first inventory of the avifauna of Menui, a small (about 9,000 ha) island 53 km off the southeast coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Formal mist-netting surveys and road-based transects were carried out on Menui for a period of... more
We present the first inventory of the avifauna of Menui, a small (about 9,000 ha) island 53 km off the southeast coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Formal mist-netting surveys and road-based transects were carried out on Menui for a period of 10 days during August 2017. These data were supplemented with opportunistic observations. A total of 48 species were recorded (of which 39 were documented with images or sound recordings), including five Wallacean endemics and one species classified as Near Threatened. Given that only two species-specific reports (documenting the presence of Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus and Moluccan Starling Aplonis mysolensis) have previously been published about the avifauna of Menui, records for all other species represent range extensions (although in most cases their presence on Menui was not unexpected). Records of particular interest include an as-yet-undetermined hanging parrot Loriculus sp., as well as Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica-arguably a first record for the Sulawesi region-and observations of the Near Threatened Lesser Fish Eagle Icthyophaga humilis.
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Despite being an important centre of endemism, the southeast peninsula of Sulawesi and its satellite islands have remained ornithologically neglected. While relatively extensive surveys have been carried out on Buton Island (the largest... more
Despite being an important centre of endemism, the southeast peninsula of Sulawesi and its satellite islands have remained ornithologically neglected. While relatively extensive surveys have been carried out on Buton Island (the largest satellite of Southeast Sulawesi), the avifauna of much of the rest of the region is poorly understood. We visited the islands of Muna and Wawonii, and Lasada village on mainland Sulawesi, in the summer of 2017 to collect data for avian biogeographic research. The 2017 expedition combined transect surveys and mist-netting, allowing for a wide assessment of the avifauna at these sites. During these visits all bird species encountered were recorded, providing the first scientific assessment of the avifauna of Wawonii and providing much needed information on the avifauna of Muna Island and the southeast peninsula of Sulawesi. In total 119 species were recorded, of which 33 are regional endemics, two are classified as Near Threatened, two as Vulnerable and one as Endangered.
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The Dwarf Sparrowhawk Accipiter nanus is endemic to mainland Sulawesi and its large satellite island Buton. It is classified as Near Threatened because, although it is very poorly known and difficult to identify, the paucity of records... more
The Dwarf Sparrowhawk Accipiter nanus is endemic to mainland Sulawesi and its large satellite island Buton. It is classified as Near Threatened because, although it is very poorly known and difficult to identify, the paucity of records suggests that it is uncommon and has a moderately small population. Furthermore, it is suspected to be in decline owing to continued habitat loss which in recent decades has been extensive in lower-lying areas of its range whilst, at present, montane forests inhabited by this species are relatively secure. It is rarely seen and is known from only a few locations, and its similarity to the sympatric and more common Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk A. rhodogaster (may have led to it being under-recorded throughout its range. We provide evidence that the Dwarf Sparrowhawk may have a wider range and habitat preferences than previously expected, with an observation from a lowland forest area of a coastal city in Sulawesi.
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Kabaena is a satellite island of mainland Sulawesi, located off the south-east peninsula. Despite the relatively extensive surveys on the nearby larger islands of Buton and Muna, Kabaena has remained ornithologically neglected.... more
Kabaena is a satellite island of mainland Sulawesi, located off the south-east peninsula. Despite the relatively extensive surveys on the nearby larger islands of Buton and Muna, Kabaena has remained ornithologically neglected. Researchers visited the island several times between 1999 and 2016 to collect data for avian biogeographic research. Data collection between 1999 and 2003 focused mainly on mist-netting small passerines. The 2016 expedition focused on transect surveys, allowing for a wider assessment of the island’s avifauna. During these visits all bird species encountered were recorded, providing the first scientific assessment of the avifauna of Kabaena. In total 89 species were recorded, of which 27 are regional endemics, three are classified as Near Threatened and one as Endangered.
Research Interests:
Research in the Indo-Pacific region has contributed massively to the understanding of speciation. White-eyes (Aves: Zosteropidae: Zosterops), a lineage containing both widespread 'supertramp' species and a high proportion of island... more
Research in the Indo-Pacific region has contributed massively to the understanding of speciation. White-eyes (Aves: Zosteropidae: Zosterops), a lineage containing both widespread 'supertramp' species and a high proportion of island endemics, have provided invaluable models. Molecular tools have increased speciation research, but delimiting species remains problematic. We investigated the evolutionary history of Zosterops species in southeast Sulawesi using mitochondrial DNA, morphometric, song and plumage analyses, to draw species limits and assess which techniques offer best resolution. Our investigation revealed a novel Zosterops species, >3000 km from its closest relative. Additionally, we demonstrated unanticipated diversity in the alleged 'supertramp' Zosterops chloris and propose the Wakatobi Islands subspecies (Z. c. flavissimus) to be given full species status. Furthermore, we provide the first molecular and phenotypic assessment of the Sulawesi endemic Zosterops consobrinorum. While local populations of this species vary in either genetics or morphometrics, none show consistency across measures. Therefore, we propose no change to Zosterops consobrinorum taxonomy. This study gives insight into one of the great Indo-Pacific radiations and demonstrates the value of using multiple lines of evidence for taxonomic review.
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The island monarch (Monarcha cinerascens) was an original example of the “supertramp strategy”. This involves well-developed dispersal specialisation, enabling a species to colonise remote islands but leaving it competitively inferior.... more
The island monarch (Monarcha cinerascens) was an original example of the “supertramp strategy”. This involves well-developed dispersal specialisation, enabling a species to colonise remote islands but leaving it competitively inferior. Supertramps are hypothesised to be excluded from larger islands by superior competitors. It is the only original Melanesian supertramp to occur in Wallacea, home also to the sedentary pale-blue monarch (Hypothymis puella). We interrogate the supertramp strategy and its biogeographical underpinnings by assessing the population structure of these two monarchs. We sampled island and pale-blue monarchs in Wallacea, collecting DNA and morphological data. We investigated monarch population structure by applying ABGD and Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood methods to their ND2 and ND3 genes. We constructed linear models to investigate the relationships between genetic divergence, dispersal ability, and island area, elevation, and isolation. Wallacea’s deep waters restrict gene flow even in a supertramp, as the Wallacean and Melanesian island monarchs are likely separate species (mean genetic distance: 2.7%). This mirrors the split of the pale-blue monarch from Asia’s black-naped monarch (Hypothymis azurea). We found further population structure within Wallacean and Melanesian island monarch populations. Their genetic divergence was related to elevation, area, and isolation of islands, as well as dispersal ability of birds. However, dispersal ability was independent of island elevation and area. Rather than being r-selected on small, disturbance-prone islands, our results support the view that the island monarch’s supertramp lifestyle is a temporary stage of the taxon cycle, i.e. supertramps may transition into resident species after colonisation. Our models suggest that more dispersive monarchs reach more distant islands, and divergence is promoted on islands that are more distant or larger or more permanent, without selection against dispersal ability per se. We suggest that supertramp lifestyle helps determine the distribution of species across islands, not necessarily the divergence occurring thereafter.
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The Wakatobi Islands are an archipelago of deep-sea islands lying off the south-east peninsula of Sulawesi. Despite being recognised as an Important Bird Area, the avifauna of these islands has long been neglected. While relatively... more
The Wakatobi Islands are an archipelago of deep-sea islands lying off the south-east peninsula of Sulawesi. Despite being recognised as an Important Bird Area, the avifauna of these islands has long been neglected. While relatively extensive surveys have been carried out on nearby Buton Island (the largest satellite of South-east Sulawesi), the avifauna of the Wakatobi Islands went unstudied for nearly a century following the expedition of Heinrich Kühn in 1901–1902. Between 1999–2019 ornithologists visited nine of the archipelago’s islands on eight expeditions, seeking to carry out a modern assessment of the islands’ avifauna and re-evaluate the taxonomy of the avifauna. These expeditions combined transect surveys and mist netting. These formal surveys were targeted at small passerines, the focus of the taxonomic work, however all birds encountered were recorded allowing for a broad qualitative assessment of the avifaunal communities inhabiting the islands. In total, 100 bird speci...
Tropical islands hold great treasures of Earth's biodiversity, but these fragile ecosystems may be lost before their diversity is fully catalogued or the evolutionary processes that birthed it are understood. We ran comparative... more
Tropical islands hold great treasures of Earth's biodiversity, but these fragile ecosystems may be lost before their diversity is fully catalogued or the evolutionary processes that birthed it are understood. We ran comparative analyses on the ND2 and ND3 mitochondrial genes of the Sulawesi babbler Pellorneum celebense, an understorey bird endemic to Sulawesi and its continental islands, along with its morphology and song. Genetic, acoustic, and morphological data agree on multiple isolated populations, likely representing independently evolving lineages. The Sulawesi babbler shows signs of rapid speciation, with populations diverging between Central and Southeast Sulawesi, and even on land-bridge islands which were connected within the last few tens of thousands of years. The genetic divergence between Sulawesi babbler populations in this time has been around 33% of their divergence from sister species which have been isolated from Sulawesi for millions of years. This is likely...
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Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Mangroves are uniquely important ecosystems, for preserving biodiversity, sustaining livelihoods and mitigating against climate change. However they are degraded globally and are therefore a priority for ecosystem restoration. To date,... more
Mangroves are uniquely important ecosystems, for preserving biodiversity, sustaining livelihoods and mitigating against climate change. However they are degraded globally and are therefore a priority for ecosystem restoration. To date, the assessment of mangrove restoration outcomes is generally poor, and the limited studies that do exist are focussed largely on forest area. Thus, more holistic ways of assessing the outcomes of mangrove restoration projects on biodiversity and associated ecological processes are urgently needed. Ecological networks are a useful tool for simultaneously examining both. Here, we assessed the utility of using species-interaction networks for evaluating mangrove restoration outcomes for the first time. We compared the structure and complexity of mangrove ecological networks in replicated ‘Monoculture Reforestation’, ‘Mixed Species Regeneration’ and ‘Reference Forest’ plots in two study areas in Sulawesi, Indonesia, an estuarine and a coastal fringe mangrove system. We also combined and evaluated sampling methods, utilising traditional plant-animal sampling while also integrating video recording data in a novel way. We found significant differences in the structure and complexity of mangrove networks between restored and natural plots, with contrasting effects between the two sites. Our results show differences in the complex ways in which taxa interact in mangrove restoration projects, which would be overlooked if common biodiversity metrics such as species-richness were used alone, with consequences for the restoration of ecosystem functioning. We also highlight the utility of video recording data collection for constructing species interaction networks, overcoming the detrimental impacts of observer presence for some key species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Competition takes place not only between species but also within them. Intersexual competition for resources may increase sexual dimorphism in body size to minimise ecological niche overlap. Change in the level of sexual dimorphism in a... more
Competition takes place not only between species but also within them. Intersexual competition for resources may increase sexual dimorphism in body size to minimise ecological niche overlap. Change in the level of sexual dimorphism in a species is a common feature of island radiations. This is often interpreted as ecological release from interspecific competitors absent from small islands, allowing niche expansion by both sexes of a dimorphic species. The Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) is a widespread island-colonising species found throughout the Indo-West Pacific. Here we investigate sexual dimorphism in morphological niche of Olive-backed Sunbird populations in South-east Sulawesi, Indonesia. We found decreased overlap in morphological niche between females and males on the species-depauperate Wakatobi Islands, in comparison to mainland Sulawesi and its larger continental islands, indicating greater sexual dimorphism on the small islands. This change in sexual dimorphism was associated with a decrease in the morphological niche hypervolume of females, but no change in males. Therefore there was no indication of expansion of morphological niche space in the absence of mainland competitors. These morphological differences were associated with the significantly higher population density of Wakatobi Olive-backed Sunbirds. Therefore this increased sexual dimorphism may serve to alleviate intraspecific competition for resources.
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Research Interests:
We highlight hitherto unreported populations of two globally threatened phalangerid species on south-east Sulawesi’s offshore islands – bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus) and small Sulawesi cuscus (Strigocuscus celebensis) – and observations... more
We highlight hitherto unreported populations of two globally threatened phalangerid species on south-east Sulawesi’s offshore islands – bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus) and small Sulawesi cuscus (Strigocuscus celebensis) – and observations of a third range-restricted species – Peleng cuscus (Strigocuscus pelengensis). Our data are based on records made during 11 years of seasonal surveys on Buton, and short-term expeditions to Kabaena and Manui. Our observations of S. celebensis on Buton, where it occurs in three protected areas, represent an important range extension for this species, as do our observations of A. ursinus on Kabaena, where it is also widespread. We also report the unexpected presence of S. pelengensis on Manui. Buton, in particular, appears to be an important stronghold for both A. ursinus and S. celebensis, given that forest ecosystems here remain extensive and relatively intact. Both these species may also display a previously unreported adaptability to disturbed fo...
Research Interests: Zoology, Conservation Biology, Conservation, Wildlife Biology, Conservation Ecology, and 15 moreWildlife Ecology And Management, Ecology, Mammalogy, Human-wildlife conflicts, Wildlife Conservation, Marsupials, Mammals, Marsupial, Wildlife Ecology, Small Mammals, Wildlife, Sulawesi, Marsupialia, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, and Bird and Mammals
We highlight hitherto unreported populations of two globally threatened Phalangeridae species on southeast Sulawesi’s offshore islands – Bear Cuscus Ailurops ursinus and Small Sulawesi Cuscus Strigocuscus celebensis – and observations of... more
We highlight hitherto unreported populations of two globally threatened Phalangeridae species on southeast Sulawesi’s offshore islands – Bear Cuscus Ailurops ursinus and Small Sulawesi Cuscus Strigocuscus celebensis – and observations of a third range-restricted species – Peleng Cuscus Strigocuscus pelengensis. Our data are based on records made during 11 years of seasonal surveys on Buton, and short-term expeditions to Kabaena and Manui. Our observations of S. celebensis on Buton, where it occurs in three protected areas, represent an important range extension for this species, as do our observations of A. ursinus on Kabaena, where it is also widespread. We also report the unexpected presence of S. pelengensis on Manui. Buton in particular appears to be an important stronghold for both A. ursinus and S. celebensis, given that forest ecosystems here remain extensive and relatively intact. Both these species may also display a previously unreported adaptability to disturbed forest and even some non-forest habitats within our study area. Hunting pressures, a proven threat to these species in northern Sulawesi, may also be lesser here.
Research Interests: Conservation Biology, Conservation, Wildlife Biology, Conservation Ecology, Wildlife Ecology And Management, and 15 moreEcology, Mammalogy, Human-wildlife conflicts, Wildlife Conservation, Marsupials, Mammals, Marsupial, Wildlife Ecology, Small Mammals, Wildlife Ecology (habitat Selection and Animal Movement), Wildlife, Sulawesi, Marsupialia, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, and Bird and Mammals
Shoreline habitats of the Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) have been affected by increased human disturbance leading to a considerable contraction in breeding range, and they are increasingly restricted to a small number of large... more
Shoreline habitats of the Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) have been affected by increased human disturbance leading to a considerable contraction in breeding range, and they are increasingly restricted to a small number of large intensively wardened colonies. Increased concentration at such sites has the potential to exacerbate the impact of depredation on overall colony breeding success. To minimise the impact of depredation by corvids, wardens at Kilcoole Little Tern colony (County Wicklow) have employed a strategy of fostering eggs abandoned by the parents of partially depredated nests, into other nests with the same incubation schedule. Fostering attempts in 2011 led to the successful hatching and rearing of two chicks by foster parents, while three chicks were reared using the same methods in 2014. This is apparently the first time this strategy has been employed with a member of the family Sternidae. Fostering eggs in this way from partially depredated nests may be a useful conservation management strategy, particularly for very rare species.
Research Interests: Marine Biology, Conservation Biology, Conservation, Marine Ecology, Conservation Ecology, and 12 moreMarine Conservation, Environment and natural resources conservation, Wildlife Conservation, Seabirds, Biodiversity Conservation, Conservation Biology and Ecology of Seabirds and Islands, Biological Conservation, Nature Conservation, ecological pertubations, seabird ecology, and managemnt of Hawaiian biodiversity, Population dynamics and behavioral ecology of seabirds, Seabird Life History Traits, and Seabird Reproduction
Little Terns (Sternula albifrons) are particularly vulnerable to nest inundation by high tides, due to their habit of nesting on shingle beaches. At the Kilcoole Little Tern colony (County Wicklow), a high tide on 19 June 2014 caused... more
Little Terns (Sternula albifrons) are particularly vulnerable to nest inundation by high tides, due to their habit of nesting on shingle beaches. At the Kilcoole Little Tern colony (County Wicklow), a high tide on 19 June 2014 caused considerable damage. While 12 nests were completely washed away, another 13 pairs whose nests had been washed out managed to gather their eggs into new nest scrapes, nine pairs managing to gather all of their eggs and another four gathering all but one of their eggs. This is a behaviour never previously recorded for a member of the family Sternidae. These nests were monitored closely to ascertain the viability of the eggs re-gathered after inundation. The proportion of eggs which were embryonically dead was significantly higher in tide affected nests when compared to non-tide affected nests. A higher proportion of the chicks that did hatch from these tide affected nests died at an early age, than those from non-tide affected nests, though this was not a...
The 2014 Little Tern Conservation Project was the most successful in the history of the project with the highest number of breeding pairs of Little Terns (Sternula albifrons) and the highest number of Little Tern fledglings on record. The... more
The 2014 Little Tern Conservation Project was the most successful in the history of the project with the highest number of breeding pairs of Little Terns (Sternula albifrons) and the highest number of Little Tern fledglings on record. The project began on May 6th with continuous day wardening of the Little Tern colony at Kilcoole/Newcastle beginning on May 12th 2014 and ending on August 8th 2014. Night wardening (thus 24 hour colony‐coverage) was initiated on May 30th and continued until August 2nd. A total of 145 nesting attempts were made by a minimum of 120 breeding pairs of Little Terns in 2014. The first eggs were found on May 25th but were thought to have been laid on May 24th. A total of 333 eggs were laid. 3 of these eggs were egg dumps and were not counted as nesting attempts. The mean clutch size was 2.31 eggs per nest with known clutch sizes (n = 138 nests). The mean incubation period was 21.29 days. 32 eggs were lost to the tide, 25 eggs failed to hatch (infertile/addled...
The 2014 Little Tern Conservation Project was the most successful in the history of the project with the highest number of breeding pairs of Little Terns (Sternula albifrons) and the highest number of Little Tern fledglings on record. The... more
The 2014 Little Tern Conservation Project was the most successful in the history of the project with the highest number of breeding pairs of Little Terns (Sternula albifrons) and the highest number of Little Tern fledglings on record. The project began on May 6th with continuous day wardening of the Little Tern colony at Kilcoole/Newcastle beginning on May 12th 2014 and ending on August 8th 2014. Night wardening (thus 24 hour colony‐coverage) was initiated on May 30th and continued until August 2nd. A total of 145 nesting attempts were made by a minimum of 120 breeding pairs of Little Terns in 2014. The first eggs were found on May 25th but were thought to have been laid on May 24th. A total of 333 eggs were laid. 3 of these eggs were egg dumps and were not counted as nesting attempts. The mean clutch size was 2.31 eggs per nest with known clutch sizes (n = 138 nests). The mean incubation period was 21.29 days. 32 eggs were lost to the tide, 25 eggs failed to hatch (infertile/addled...
A total of 106 nesting attempts were made by 102 breeding pairs of Little Tern in 2013, the highest total of pairs recorded since the project began in 2007. Wardening of the Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) colony at Baltray began on May... more
A total of 106 nesting attempts were made by 102 breeding pairs of Little Tern in 2013, the highest total of pairs recorded since the project began in 2007. Wardening of the Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) colony at Baltray began on May 13th 2013 and ended on August 9th 2013. The first eggs were found on May 30th. The last eggs were found July 18th, which was one of four late nests suspected to be re-lays of early failed nests. A total of 229 eggs were laid, 228 eggs in active nests and one randomly laid ‘egg dump’ which was not was not part of an active nest and was never incubated. The mean clutch size was 2.15 eggs per nest. The largest loss of eggs related to 9 eggs from 7 nests where the egg was infertile or the chick did not survive to hatching. Other losses included 8 eggs from 4 nests which were washed out during the June and July spring tides, 4 eggs from 3 nests which were abandoned and 4 eggs from 2 nests which were presumably depredated by corvids. A total of 203 chicks...
As extinction rates continue to rise at an alarming level, due to increasing human exploitation of the natural environment, focus is being placed on the cataloguing of cryptic diversity. Global endemism may be underestimated, as cryptic... more
As extinction rates continue to rise at an alarming level, due to increasing human exploitation of the natural environment, focus is being placed on the cataloguing of cryptic diversity. Global endemism may be underestimated, as cryptic populations go undescribed. This is especially true of the Wallacea region, an area which has been poorly studied, despite its unique fauna. This study investigates cryptic diversity in Sulawesi Tenggara, an area in the Wallacea region. Recent research has shown previously unrecorded avian endemism is present in Sulawesi Tenggara. The subjects of this study; the Olive-backed Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird and Black Sunbird, birds of the family Nectariniidae, have shown a propensity to diversify on islands throughout their range. The morphology of populations of these birds was compared for divergence between mainland Sulawesi and two islands of its coast; Kabaena and Buton. These comparisons provide evidence for three previously unr...